Let’s start at the back. The new Volkswagen Golf Estate has 1,642-litres of boot, which means it’s not just more spacious than the car it replaces (to the tune of 22-litres), but more practical than, for example, a Volvo V60 or BMW 3 Series Touring.

That extra space comes largely from more physical bigness – at 4,633mm long the Mk8 is a whopping 349mm longer than the Mk7, with a 66mm longer wheelbase. Which is probably why it looks a bit odd from the rear three-quarter. Certainly not as good-looking as the new Skoda Octavia Estate, is it?

Inside, under the bonnet and generally just fore of the B-pillar, the new Estate shares everything with the Golf hatchback. From the controversially button-free dashboard (“hardly anything is carried over from before – apart from the perfect ergonomic design” claims VW, wrongly) to the 48-volt mild-hybrid petrol engines.

Oh, and alongside the Golf Estate VW is launching the Alltrack. It’s a lifted Golf Estate with permanent all-wheel drive and special bumpers – a bit like an Audi A6 Allroad or Mercedes E-Class All-Terrain. Niche.

Both are set to go on sale later this year.

STORY Tom Harrison